Chapter Nine: Keep 'Em Coming
Ella's much needed enthusiasm for the start of a fresh day was dashed the moment she stepped into the common room. Sighing heavily, she noticed Blaise, Pansy, Draco and his two oafs of friends sitting around a table, one spot left open for her. She walked to the group, taking the vacant high backed chair while muttering hello to those around her. Blaise straightened up, catching her eye.
"So how'd detention go? I missed you coming in last night."
Ella knew he would, she had planned it that way. She had snuck quickly to the common room, racing up the stairs to the safety of the dormitory the instant she returned. She hadn't wanted to deal with talking, but here she was at the start of the conversation. It seemed inevitable. Ella pulled out some parchment, ruffling through the pages as she studied them. She might as well get it over with.
"I served it with Potter." She said tersely, her eyes glued to her notes.
Blaise's face instantly darkened, but it was not his voice she heard when he opened his mouth.
"What?" Draco exclaimed, his head snapping up from the edition of the Prophet he was currently reading.
"I had to serve detention with Potter."
He tossed the paper aside, the contents now completely forgotten.
"What do you mean?" he questioned imploringly, shifting towards her anxiously.
Ella huffed in agitation, "I mean exactly what I said. Look, last night was unpleasant enough as it is. Could we not talk about it?"
"How the hell did you end up serving detention with Potter?" Draco asked, his tone void of any pleasantries.
Ella exhaled deeply, "Snape told me to follow him and we ended up in McGonagall's classroom where Potter was," she paused, her face twisting at the memory. "Potter's face would have been comical had it not been for the situation. He was completely shocked. McGonagall had us subduing mice for the first years to work on. She told us we would work together on our punishment to make up for the fact that we didn't spend time together during the latest meeting. She also said we would continue to receive detentions until we finished that ridiculous list everyone had gotten. But I call it a bluff, they wouldn't make us serve them forever, it would be a hassle on their end. And if they do and it was anything like last night, it wouldn't be difficult at all. Just more of an inconvenience."
"So you had to work together with Potter?" Draco asked in disgust, his face becoming redder.
"Yes, though we didn't actually. The second they left I conjured a second set of the supplies and took half the mice. Worked on my own until I was done."
"Smart move." Blaise muttered, "And what did Potter do?"
Ella snorted, "Sat like a dolt for a few minutes, then got up and did the same thing as me."
"Did he try talking to you?" Draco demanded.
Ella turned her blue eyes sharply on Draco, "Yes Draco. I told him all about my pains in life and he told me about his. You know, we really… connected. On a deep, emotional level." She ended her sentence with a glare.
Draco kept quiet as Ella looked back at her notes, but she knew the storm that would eventually explode.
"And where was Snape in all of this?" he asked, not being able to fathom what he was being told.
Ella shrugged, "He was there. He stood behind McGonagall with one of the worst looks on his face I've ever seen. He was nearly as upset as I was."
"And he didn't do anything?" Draco asked aghast.
Ella frowned, "I don't think there was much he could do. McGonagall is the Deputy Headmistress… her word goes."
Draco swore, kicking the table in front of him, "So what now? You have to do that stupid assignment with Potter?"
Ella let out a mirthless laugh, "So they say, but I'm not doing anything of the sort. I'd rather sit there through detention then have to communicate with that idiot."
She looked up, Draco fuming still under the surface, but not knowing what to say, while Blaise sat scowling at the floor below.
"I'm going down to breakfast, I'll see you all later."
Harry pushed open the doors to the library, scanning the room for Ron and Hermione. He spotted them near the back underneath an enormous window, both leaning over a piece of parchment between them.
He heard Hermione's exasperated voice as he neared "-because you can't put that into an essay Ron. You need to make it sound more professional. Unless you're hoping for an Acceptable on it."
"I'd be perfectly fine with an Acceptable. Giddy even."
"Honestly Ron, you could do so much more if you didn't just settle."
"I-" Ron looked up as he approached, "Wow, you're finally up."
Harry pulled back a chair, sinking into it, "Well our morning class was canceled, I figured I'd sleep in. I guess I was a bit tired from last night." He paused, his mind going back to recount the unfortunate news that he would be serving detentions with Malfoy from here on out. Though Harry didn't know how much of a threat it would hold.
"I don't blame you there." Ron muttered sympathetically. He'd told Ron and Hermione about his detention the night before, Hermione had once again been silent, as if she knew it had been coming. Ron was just dumbstruck, surprised they were actually making it happen.
"Yeah, well..." Harry pushed open his bag, digging inside for his supplies. He didn't really want to focus on the unfortunate twist his life had once again taken. "I'm surprised you didn't sleep in."
Ron grimaced, "I would have but someone said this was the only time she'd help me with our essay."
"If you want my help you do it on my time." Hermione declared, looking over at Harry. "I'm assuming you don't need my help?"
Harry shook his head, "Finished it last night."
"What? And you didn't let me have a look at it?"
Hermione hit his arm, "Ron! It's not his responsibility to give you the answers."
Harry continued on joking, "You didn't ask for it. Besides, Hermione told me if I helped you she wouldn't help me with anything for the next month."
Ron leaned back, holding a hand over his heart as if appalled.
"My two best friends, conspiring against me."
"If you can fit a word like conspiring into a normal sentence, why can't you write a decent essay?" Hermione asked.
"Because I'm not graded on the things I say Hermione."
"Thank God for that." Harry muttered, but ducked as a wad of parchment flew at his head.
"Hermione?"
The three of them looked up, spotting Bradley standing a few feet away. Hermione's face showed surprise before her mouth spread into a wide smile.
"Hi Connor," she said brightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "What are you up to?"
He lifted the books in his arms, "I've got an exam in a few days and I wanted to make sure I was prepared for it, so I came to study. What are you up to?"
She pointed her thumb at Ron, "Helping him with an essay. He's not the studying type."
Ron frowned, looking rather stiff in his seat, "I study."
Hermione gave him a critical look, "When do you ever study?"
"Just because I don't in front of you doesn't mean I don't do it. I obviously got into my sixth year well enough."
Hermione simply shook her head, "Connor you've met Ron before right?"
Connor brushed his hair out of his eyes, "Briefly, I think I've ran into him a few times. How's it going?"
"Good." Ron responded somewhat gruffly, giving him a curt nod. Harry raised an eyebrow at him, to which Ron looked away.
"What are you studying for?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Oh Arithmancy. Professor Vector said we can choose a topic to discuss in-depth about our history that may have led to major differences from today. I'm studying to determine other possible outcomes on the Giant Wars at the end of the nineteenth century. And how these outcomes could have affected major societal differences today."
Hermione's eyes shone bright with interest, "That's sounds like an amazing idea. I find the idea of creating predictions from sentence structure in Martom's theory to be fascinating."
Harry stared at the pair, understanding why the hat threw them together. He couldn't fathom how two people could like the subject so much. It was a loaded topic, with a lot of math involved. Harry couldn't be offered enough gold to take it.
Bradley's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You've read Martom? That's advanced seventh year material. I'm just getting into it myself. And I thought I was ahead."
Hermione blushed, "Yes I have, I'm slightly enthusiastic about the subject, I find it incredibly interesting."
Bradley gave her an admiring look, "I'm impressed."
Hermione smiled, a shy tint to it. "Thank-"
"So are we going to continue with the essay or should I grab a bite to eat?"
They both stopped talking abruptly, Hermione giving him a hard look, "Ron."
Bradley looked between the pair, "Sorry, I didn't mean to disrupt your studies. I'll see you later Hermione. Harry, Ron," he continued, giving them a nod as he took off further into the maze of bookshelves. The second he was out of sight Hermione pounced on Ron.
"Well that was rude!"
"What?" Ron asked heatedly, hard lines etched into his forehead.
"Your attitude! We were just talking about Arithmancy, something we both happen to enjoy. I hardly get to talk to anyone about it. And you crudely interrupting like that-"
"Well you'll have more than enough time to talk on Wednesday."
"So? Just because we are partners and have to meet up Wednesday doesn't mean we can't talk outside of it."
"Fine, forget it. I can do it myself. Thanks for the help," he said sarcastically, slamming his book shut. He scooped his things into his bag, nearly knocking his chair over as he shot out of the library.
Hermione turned her shocked expression to Harry, "What was that about?"
Harry shrugged, his eyes trailing after Ron.
"Maybe he's hungry," he said in a half-joke, trying to lighten the situation. Hermione huffed angrily as she pulled out her own books.
"That's the last time I help him with anything."
Harry kept quiet, choosing not to give his own theories on Ron's new behavior. Bradley was just lucky no figurines were made of him like Krum.
He scribbled on his own parchment for some time, looking up at Hermione occasionally, wanting to ask a question, but only returning to his work at her foul expression.
Finally he spoke, "Hermione we should head to class."
She looked up distractedly, her eyes briefly meeting him.
"What?"
"We should head to class." He held up his watch, her eyes going wide at the time.
"We're going to be late!" she said, frantically packing up her things.
"How? We always leave the common room at this time, and we're a quarter of the way closer."
"Yes but I have to go to my dormitory and grab my Defense book."
Harry's mouth tugged upward in a half smile, "For once you're not prepared?"
Hermione glared, "I just lost track of time."
"You lost track of time? Wow, I never thought I'd see the day!"
"Harry." Hermione warned, an edge in her voice, "I'm really not in the mood."
"Hence me trying to lighten it."
Hermione stopped, her eyes steadily on his. Harry smiled back as charmingly as he could, causing her lips to twitch in her attempt to restrain her smile. She shook her head lightly, a soft laugh escaping her lips.
"Come on let's go." Harry exclaimed, rising from the table. "We might be late. Wouldn't want to ruin your reputation."
Harry followed Hermione out the door before stumbling into someone.
"Oh, sorry-" Harry began, raising his eyes, the sight before him causing his face to fall, "-Professor."
McGonagall cast her critical eyes on his still from.
"Mr. Potter, just the person I was looking for."
Harry shared a look with Hermione, straightening his robes. He stood in front of her cautiously, though he was pretty sure he knew what was coming.
"Yes Professor?"
"I see my warnings fell on deaf ears. You will meet me in my classroom once again tonight at seven o'clock sharp."
Harry's face twisted into a sour resemblance of Snape.
"What for?" he questioned roughly, his face turning to stone.
"Do you really need to ask?" she asked, lowering her glasses to give him a fixed stare. Harry shuffled his feet.
"For detention," he confirmed dejectedly, not meeting her eyes.
McGonagall pressed her lips into a firm line, "Yes Potter, and I don't want to hear any excuses. My classroom, tonight at seven."
She nodded curtly, her heels clicking against the stone floor as she made her way briskly through the crowd.
Harry's shoulder slumped as Hermione stared at him. Through her silence Harry heard all she wanted to say. Not wanting to deal with the lecture, Harry trudged ahead.
"Come on, let's go."
"Harry, maybe you should try talking-"
"We should head back to the common room Hermione, you don't want to be late remember?"
They found Ron in line waiting for class to start. He'd lost his rigidness from earlier, addressing Hermione in his usual behavior. Harry caught Hermione's brief confusion before her face reverted back to its original expression.
"Still not here?" Harry asked, leaning against the wall.
Ron shrugged, "Yeah, but what's new? He's never here on time. I would normally say that's a good thing, but Defense is one of the few classes I actually like, so I wish he would be here, you know, when class starts."
"You know, that's exactly what professors think about you when you're late." Hermione claimed amusedly.
Ron gave a faraway look in awe.
"Whoa, insight," he shuddered, his face looking conflicted, "Don't ever point that out to me again."
"Sorry, sorry." A voice from behind them began, as the owner scurried up the hall. He fumbled with the books in his hands, and with a soft click he unlocked the door, leading the class inside.
Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at their customary table, the three squeezing together so they could fit.
Their professor quickly dumped his things on his desk, bottles and books sliding off it and onto the floor. He strode over to the side of the room to pull out the chalkboard, but stumbled mid step, tripping over the hem of his robes. He hit his head against the board with a painful thud, muttering to himself under his breath. Normally this would have drawn sympathy from a majority of the class, or laughter, but this wasn't the first time their professor had been less than graceful.
"Now today," he grunted, pulling the board to the front of the room, "We are going to be practicing the ever useful stunning curse." The breath Harry had been holding was let out in a huff, his shoulders sinking with Ron and Hermione's. "Now, the stunning curse is an offensive spell, commonly used by many witches and wizards around the globe. It is a clever way to subdue an assailant. Its incantation is stupefy. If you could say it with me?" he asked, surveying the room. "One, two, three-"
"Stupefy," the class said in a collective lackluster voice. The tone went unnoticed by their professor however.
"Excellent. Now the stunning curse, also known as the stupefying charm or the commonly used phrase, a stunner, emits from the wand as a red jet of light, rendering the target unconscious. How long the spell lasts for varies depending upon the power of the caster. Typically it ranges from a good thirty minutes to an hour. Now if you would all pair up, we will be executing this spell and then lecture afterwards."
Grumbling was heard all around them as Harry rose with Ron and Hermione.
"We're learning this again?" Ron uttered in mild disbelief.
"You know, as useful as this spell is… And as much as I believe in practicing it… I don't think it's this useful." Harry said, giving a heavy sigh as he reluctantly drew out his wand.
"What's that make this, the twentieth time since school started?"
"It's the fourth time he's taught us this spell." Hermione sighed, lining up beside Harry.
"How many times can you learn a spell? Especially one that you learned in fourth year?" Ron protested.
"Apparently a lot." Harry complained, standing at the ready across from Seamus. He waved his wand quickly, the red light of the spell bursting out toward the Irishman. It hit Seamus head on, causing the teen to go unconscious.
"My, my, you are all exceptionally good at this charm! I've got an extraordinary group of students in this room."
"Helps when you've taught it to us four times in the past month." Ron grumbled. Hermione frowned at him, but didn't hold much emphasis behind it. "Hey Dean, pay up." he yelled across the room to his partner. Dean sighed, reaching into his bag and throwing him a number of sickles.
"I didn't think it could possibly happen again." Dean said back, raising his wand to hit Ron with a spell.
"Protego," Harry said as Seamus's stunner flew rapidly towards him. It shook his shield faintly, before Harry dropped it to throw his own.
"Excellent spell work Mr. Potter! And outstanding use of the protection charm. Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Harry gave the man a small smile, "Thank you Sir."
Ron watched him walk away, "And now he's surprised at a protection shield? Where's his head at?"
"Ron…" Hermione attempted half-heartedly, "He's alright. At least he's a better improvement from Umbridge."
"Yeah but not much better. He doesn't know what he's doing half of the time."
Hermione's face became a grimace as she looked at their professor with sympathy.
In contrast to Hermione's feelings, Harry agreed with Ron's comments. With Umbridge sacked at the end of last year, the position for the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was once again vacant. Remus had heard that Snape had tried once again to obtain its position, but Dumbledore had denied him, something which Harry was immensely grateful for. Instead, he had found one Christophe Landel, a middle-aged wizard who was a former publisher of a few first year defense books and had been an assistant to the Head of the Auror Department many years ago.
He was… an eccentric man.
A spacey man.
And forgettable.
And clumsy.
The list could go on.
In short he wasn't a very high quality of a teacher. He was a kind man but forgot things, frequently, usually forgetting what he'd taught students already, sometimes teaching them the same lecture two class periods in a row. At first students tried to correct him, but in the end it was useless. He was confused every time a student brought it up, his face going blank for several seconds before he carried on. Not out of rudeness, but because it seemed he didn't even remember the interruption, or didn't understand what they meant. Harry felt Dumbledore was grasping at straws and it made Harry heart sink knowing that it was very possible no one wanted the position. Though many thought Hogwarts was the safest place possible in all of Great Britain, there were a fair amount that thought their proximity to Dumbledore (and admittedly himself) drew unwanted attention from the enemy. It gave a further bleak outlook to the situation than Harry liked. If this was all they could get, how were they supposed to protect themselves against Voldemort?
"Professor? Could I talk to you for a moment?" Harry said, stepping around multiple second years to make his way into the classroom. He found his target at the back of the class, reverting all the objects the second years had practiced with back to their original forms. McGonagall turned around, her eyes studying him.
"Yes Mr. Potter, come in."
Harry made his way to the back of the room, stopping a few feet from McGonagall.
"Hold this for a moment," she said, handing him a large box. He grabbed it swiftly, holding it as she filled it high with blue pincushions, trying to clean the clutter that consumed the table. "Place the box over there on the table please." Harry quickly did as he was told, watching as the older witch swirled her wand at the mess on the other desks. Scraps of parchment flew towards the trash bin, the chairs tucking themselves tight under their desk. Nodding in satisfaction, she finally turned to address Harry.
"What can I help you with?"
"I have this for you." Harry began, digging inside his bag and pulling out a rumpled piece of parchment.
"What's this?"
"The roster for the new Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Her stern face cracked, revealing one of pleasant surprise. She scanned over the names, soaking in the information he gave her.
"It seems like a very eclectic team Mr. Potter… but very interesting. Demelza Robins? She's such a small girl…"
"Small but fast, she moves easily between the players. Not one Bludger ever came close to her during tryouts. And Coote and Peakes are pretty good, so it wasn't for lack of trying."
McGonagall nodded, "I trust your judgment on the matter. It's unfortunate that some many amazing players graduated last year. Makes it hard to keep our momentum. But I have no doubt you're up to it. I've very pleased you held tryouts and finally have the team assembled. Professor Snape tells me his Slytherins have already had three practices so I had begun to worry."
Harry shook his head, "No need Professor, I think the Cup is pretty secure in your office."
McGonagall gave a rare smile, walking back to her desk and sticking the parchment in a drawer.
"Well thank you for the roster. Let me know if I need to get the pitch for you at all. I know the Slytherin team likes booking times then suddenly canceling them, making it hard to get the pitch and consequentially giving no time for the other Houses to gather for a practice. A clever idea, but it can be intercepted by the professors at times."
"Thank you Professor."
She sat behind her desk, glancing at him when he didn't move.
"Can I help you with anything else?" She asked inquisitively.
Harry steeled himself for the conversation ahead. Hermione's words before Defense had stuck. He ran through what he would say to her the entire last period, as they cast their "newly learned" spell, and though he knew it was most likely pointless, he had to give it a shot.
"Professor, I wanted to talk to you… about- about the House Meetings," he began hesitantly, already knowing how she felt about the matter. He just had to try to talk to her, and actually talk about it. Not just get sent off.
Her face grew sterner, if that was at all possible.
"Have you done the essay?"
"Well, no-" Harry started, trying to explain.
"Then we have nothing to discuss."
Harry let out a frustrated sigh, "Professor being partnered with her… doesn't make any sense-"
"It doesn't have to make sense to you Mr. Potter. The hat chose you two as partners for a reason."
"It doesn't understand what's going on though, who we are. Isn't the whole point trying to create positive relations? She's-"
"Potter that's enough," she said in a severe voice, registering his crestfallen form. She raised her glasses, pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at him again. She stared at him as her face softened, and continued on in a lighter tone, "Now I'm sorry you are upset with the pairing but there is nothing I can do about it. Everyone has been paired equally, there is no one left over. And you aren't the only couple who are having difficulty with the situation Potter, there are others who are partnered with someone they are… less than thrilled to be paired with. They deal with it and so will you. This is the last time I will discuss the matter. You know what needs to be done. Until you do your assignments with Miss Malfoy, you will continue serving detention every day at seven o'clock. I will see you tonight."
"Miss Malfoy." McGonagall's voice rang out, causing the blonde to freeze in her tracks. She closed her eyes, letting her head fall to her chest.
She heard a growl beside her, "What does she want?"
"How am I supposed to know Draco?" She answered, though she had a very good idea what McGonagall was calling her over for.
"Miss Malfoy."
Her voice was much closer now and suddenly Ella felt a presence stop behind her. She turned around slowly, staring up at the tall witch in front of her. She adjusted the strap of her bag as she looked away, anxiousness swelling in her chest.
"Yes Professor?"
McGonagall gave a brisk answer, "May I have a word?"
Ella took a slight glance at Draco before walking a few feet away with McGonagall.
"Yes Professor?"
"Detention tonight at seven o'clock. You will report to my classroom once again."
She knew it had been coming, but it didn't irritate her any less. Why the hell was Potter not dealing with this? He didn't want to work with her either.
"With Potter?" she asked brusquely.
"Yes."
Ella stayed quiet for a moment, contemplating her next words carefully. She wasn't a huge fan of the Transfiguration professor, more... indifferent than anything else, but she did have to admit that she dealt a fair hand equally between all of her students. She had no desire to unnecessarily be on McGonagall's bad side.
"Why aren't I serving detentions with Professor Snape?" Ella challenged, though she tried to keep her voice neutral. She didn't understand why Snape couldn't be in charge of it. She'd have it ten times easier.
McGonagall's expression remained unmoved, "Because as of right now, I am the one dealing with the detentions for the House Meetings. Professor Snape and I discussed this detention and due to the fact he is busy with classes all day, I told him I would track you down."
"Oh." Was all Ella replied, growing silent once again.
"I'll see you then."
As she walked away, Draco immediately pounced, appearing at her side with his curious eyes boring into her.
"What did she want?"
"To give me detention again tonight with Potter."
"Are you kidding me?" Draco exclaimed in a disgruntled tone, following after Ella as she turned and resumed her trek to the dungeons. "What is Snape thinking-"
"I really don't want to talk about it Draco."
"But-"
She halted so suddenly he walked a few feet before realizing his sister was no long by his side.
"Look, I hate I have to serve these, but it is the way it is. I'm grateful I'm made to do detentions instead of a professor looming over us while we are forced to complete those assignments. Let's just drop it alright? I already have to deal with it in about," she grabbed his hand, looking at his watch, "two hours. I don't really want to have to now as well."
She continued her trek, leaving her brother behind in the hall. A few seconds later she heard his rapid footsteps as he tried to catch up with her.
"I don't get why Potter's not doing anything about this. He's got to hate this just as much and he won't talk to them? Of course they'd listen to their golden boy."
"Or we could just keep talking about it." Ella muttered sarcastically under her breath, trying to ignore her brother as he ranted the rest of the way to their common room.
She spent the next two hours listening to her brother and became so annoyed, she was almost thankful when she flew out of the common room to go to detention. When she arrived at McGonagall's room, she pushed the door gently aside, finding no one inside. Thankful she was the first here. She walked across the floor, taking the desk furthest from the entrance as possible. She had just put her bag down when someone stopped by the door.
She glanced up, nearly groaning when Potter stepped through the entrance. He hesitated at the doorway, his face turning just as grim as she expected hers to look like. He walked a few steps forward, immediately taking the seat in front of him, staring resolutely up at the front. Ella turned away as well, not wanting to acknowledge his presence. She would just pretend she was here serving detention alone, get her work done and then leave. Quick and painless.
The door was pushed open once more, McGonagall walking quickly inside while levitating multiple containers with her wand.
"I'm glad to see you both made it here on time."
Ella ran her fingers over the surface of the desk, not bothering to look up and see what today's surprise would be.
McGonagall set the box on the middlemost desk between them. Clearing her throat to gain their attention, she observed them both critically.
"Professor Snape's potion supplies are running low. Tonight you will be prepping the ingredients." She paused for a long moment as neither moved, "So take a seat and get started, it will take you sometime to complete."
Ella chanced a reluctant glance at Potter, watching as he slowly pushed himself up from the desk. He shuffled over to the table McGonagall had set the supplies on, lowering himself cautiously into the chair, as if at any movement he could make the thing explode.
McGonagall turned her attention towards her, causing Ella to rise from her seat before reluctantly sitting at the chair beside Potter. Her hands gripped the sides of her seat while she scooted to the right, moving the chair furthest away from Potter as she could. She would appease McGonagall and sit next to the Gryffindor until she left and do detention like she had the last time. Alone.
McGonagall turned around, but to Ella's horror, she didn't walk towards the door like she had thought the Transfiguration Professor would, but went by her desk, having a seat in her chair.
Ella sat stock still, Potter not moving beside her either. It was bad enough she had to serve detention with Potter, but to have to suffer through sitting next to him?
McGonagall pulled some papers towards her, glancing up as neither teen moved.
"Those ingredients won't prep themselves."
Grudgingly, Ella finally examined the items in front of her. A majority were basic ingredients: beetles, caterpillars and the like. Some were slightly more challenging, one needing a precise and steady hand to achieve the maximum potency it would produce in potions. She thought she'd start small, grabbing a small bowl of beetles to chop. Potter moved jerkily next to her, grabbing an equally small bowl of caterpillars and picking up a knife to mince them.
She picked out a large beetle, taking care as she diced it into quarters, scooping the remains off the desk and putting it in an empty container, careful not to move to terribly much and possibly touch Potter. She flinched away as his elbow lightly grazed her, leaning as far to her right as she could manage. She snuck a quick glimpse at the teen, watching as his eyes focused determinedly on his work. She rolled her own; of course he had to use every ounce of energy to cut caterpillars, even the simplest task was challenging to him. She cut her beetles fast in an attempt to get done in as timely of a manner as possible.
As the simpler tasks got accomplished, the more challenging ones were next to do. Ella reached inside a small container of water, pulling out a dead lionfish. The spines of the fish were commonly used in potions, but to make sure the spine was adequate and still completely intact, no part snagging on the meat as it was pulled out, the whole fish needed to be cut. She picked up the fillet knife, biting her lip as she slit the belly of the fish, shimmying the knife towards the tail carefully.
Her arm was hit, bumping her slightly forward, but it was enough. The small force had made her slip, making a large gash through the fish, the momentum of the knife cracking the spine and making it completely useless.
She flicked the fallen hair out of her eyes as she sent a vicious glare at Potter. He bumped her lightly again, picking up a snail shell and dropping it inside the mortar before crushing it with a pestle, trying to grind the shell into a powder. He was once again concentrated on his work, not even noticing that he'd ruined her ingredient.
Huffing in exasperation she reached forward to grab a sling of boomslang skin, deciding to shred it when the teen beside her reached out as well, their hands colliding. She felt the rough yet oddly smooth palm of his hand for a split second as his fingers overlapped hers.
She jerked her hand away as if burned, Potter pulling his firmly away as well. His face was hard as he reached forward quickly to pluck another shell out of the container. She pulled the whole container of boomslang skin closer towards her, keeping her eyes determinedly away from the teen.
McGonagall watched them the entire detention and two hours later, they were done. Ella glanced at the clock, mentally cursing when she realized the rest of her night was void, there was no time left to do anything. They'd already passed the curfew that had been enforced twenty minutes ago.
The older witch hovered over their table, examining their work. Nodding in satisfaction, she swished her wand, the ingredients floating to a table beside the door.
"I'm sure Professor Snape with be pleased with the outcome of your hard work. You both are dismissed." Both Ella and Harry rose from the table in a hurry, reaching down to grab their bags.
"If this is suddenly desirable." McGonagall suddenly spoke, placing a piece of parchment on the table. She didn't wait to see if anyone grabbed it, instead continuing back through the isles to reach her office.
Ella glanced down out of curiosity, seeing the neat ink on the parchment.
What do you hope to achieve in your lifetime that would be impactful on the people closest to you?
What are your favorite hobbies? What is a hobby you wish you had learned and could now demonstrate?
What other House would you choose to be place in if you could? And why? What attributes to you admire?
Who is someone you hold in high regard that you would like to resemble the most?
Ella stopped reading. She accidentally let a humorless chuckle escape her lips. Potter looked up quickly, surprise written on his face at the noise. Her expression became a flawless mask once more and she narrowed her eyes, instantly turning around and walking through the door. She noticed Potter pause and stare at the list, and for one appalled moment, thought he would pick it up. But he had only reached out to grab a spare knife, throwing it with the others before following right behind her.
Hell would have to freeze over before she would discuss any of those things with Potter.
A/N: Sorry once again for the wait! The semester just started and I'm taking a full load, so I've been quite busy with classes. I have half of the other chapter done now however, so it shouldn't be long for the next one.
Thank you all for the reviews and support, I'm glad it's going at a realistic pace for most of you... that's what I was aiming for. I know it may not have been terribly climactic, but trust me, those moments will come later!
I read a review talking about how Ella isn't too much like Ginny and in case anyone else feels this way, here's my view on it. Yes, I agree that realistically a part of her could shine through, as it did with Sirius, but for story purposes and to develop more of a bond later on, Harry will be the one that is drawing Ginny out of Ella. Also with a family like the Malfoys and all of her connections being just like them, I think it would be incredibly hard to have Ginny emerge in that sort of situation. I felt like Harry and Sirius were the exceptions to the rule. But everyone has their own opinions on it! To me, she would be molded to fit in well to that world, especially growing up with Draco's pompous attitude. But things don't stay the same forever!
What did you think about the chapter? Leave a review and let me know if/what you liked about it! Happy reading! :)
